Hydraulic device for controlling several members with a predetermined automatic interdependency



July 13, 1948. R. F. POUlLLE 2,445,081

DRAULIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SEVERAL MEMBERS WITH A FEE-DETERMINED AUTOMATIC INTERDEPENDENCY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1946 3 arm w Mrmjqy R. F. POUILLE 2,445,081

HYDRAULIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SEVERAL MEMBERS WITH A PREDETERMINED AUTOMATIC INTERDEPENDENCY Filed Oct. 30, 1 946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I is-.4-

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\ a a o n a frwenfir July 13, 1948. R. F. POUlLLE 2,445,081

HYDRAULICDEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SEVERAL MEMBERS WITH A PREDETERMINED AUTOMATIC INTERDEPENDENCY Filed Oct. 30, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jnv nr 2203671 Z3 Elam R. F. POUILLE July 13, 1948.

HYDRAULIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SEVERAL MEMBERS WITH A PREDETERMINED AUTOMATIC INTERDEPENDENCYv 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 30, 1946 //X/// A //l\ 35 I 3k i L \l 2 v z 1s A l n I 3 I H 2 13 ii 6' E Jrw zzrf 150192 I mix HYDRAULIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING SEVERAL MEMBERS WITH A PREDETERMINED AUTOMATIC INTERDEPENDENCY Filed-Oct. so, 1946 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 13, 1948. R, F, POUILLE 2,445,081

Pic-18 Patented July 13, 1948 UNITED STATES 2,445,081

HYDRAULIC DEVICE FOR CN'1?R..()LLI .G SEVERAL MEMBERS WITH 'A' PREDETER-f MINED AUTOMATIC INTERDEPENDENGY :Robert. Francois Pouille, Armentieres, France A plication October 30, 1946, Serial No. 706,714

.In-Francc October 11 1940 Section 1, Public Law 690, August- 8, 19.4. Patent expires October. 11-, 1 960 3- Claims. (Cl. co -97 This invention; relates to a hydraulic unit, for driving- -several members, such as machine tool members, for example.

;-I-n so me cases, the operation ofseveral membe has to. be carried out ins-given order andin accordance with agiven relation. For instance, machine tools are provided .on the one hand, with a. too l.s1idehaving a reciprocating motiontand. on the other-handwith a clamping member whichisobrou-ght to an-operating position for clamping? the workbefore .the beginning of the forward stroke of the tool slide and remains .in this clamping; positionduring the. forward and return strokesof said tool slide, to be returned '60 itSDOsition oi rest-when said tool slide has been brought to a stop.

Thea-device which is the object of this invention 1permits carrying out automatically and solelypby means -of -pressure fluid the control of all SllCh"D1 'similarmotions, with the aforesaid or any other predetermined interdependency. This device is essentially chara-cterizedby the combination of two double action hydraulic pistons arranged to drive respectivelythe two nemhers-to be controlled. with a main sliding valve controlling the inlet: of: fluid under. pressure into the cylinders containing-- said pistons andthe exhaust thereof, and additional means also controlling the'flow o ffluid in connectingoonduitsso as to: cause said pistons to operate only. in accordante tht e d ire n rdepen y.

The main slide valve is operated by one of the pistons. at the. end of eachsuccessive, stroke thereof I he inletand exhaust. conduits ref-both cylinti r are-err-angedian flu d ow reg atin va agecprovided one er -more of said-conduits, in such a manner that the forward :and. (or); return speeds'of eitheraofthe pistons or-both may be adjusted independently of each other.

For. the particular. application" of: the. present ser es ce m ine llh h e re m b s te-be controlled. one of. which .is operated. by the.. 1jrs t. piston and must efiect its iorward and return strokes during the period of, rest of the otherimember: between its two strokes, the slide valve first. controls a conduit; which is connected in series with the working chambers (forward stroke) of the first-and second cylinders and then controlsa conduit which is connected. on the one hand, with the exhaust chamber forward stroke) o f thesecond cylinder and. onthe other hand. through a branch conduit-[with the corresponding chamber of the. first. cylinder.

tuss e- 2 onsult is-in erwd a a valve 2 which, while the. slide valve is. in its first, position, causing the first conduit to be connected. with the" supply of fluid. underpressure. and the Ifsecond conduit to be connected with the exhaust, closes said branch conduit and prevents the eXh-a from. th first cylinder, so that-onlyth'e .se. pistonefiects. its forward stroke. Said ball valvejis short-.circuitedflbyma by.- pass conduit containing. an auxiliary slide. valve which opens, automatically as soon as,'.on account of the first piston remaining. at rest, the. pressurerises to an .amount limited. by .a reaulatingvalveg, permitting the firstlpistonto. efiect itsfor'twaiid, stroke, at the end of which it .brings the main slide valve to a seoondpoistion inwhichtheaflrstconduit is connected with. the. exhaust while. the.

second is connected with the fluid. supply.

vFor this second. position, the. exhaust from the; first cylinder is freely. effected through thefirst. mentioned conduit and the. first. piston eiifects, its return stroke, while thesecondfpiston stil1. re mains, at. rest since the exhaust from the'cylinder is prevented by alball valve arranged in :8. portion of conduit that connects th'etwo cylinders together. 7

.Atthe end of the return stroke, the first ..pis ton shifts the main Lslide. valve to a third position in which said valve closesthe supply. to the; Q3715 inders butopens a port allowin the fluid." o. enter into a small. cylinder, the piston oflwhi controls the. aforesaid.ballvalvawhichthen pc -'I mits the exhaust from the. second. cylinder {ad the. return stroke ofthe second piston.

.The instant. at iwhichthis return stroke to. b egi n..-Inay bevaried by. varying the position of the aforesaid port.

v Other features and details. of this invention will be further explained in 4 the following .-de: scription given with .reference to the .acconipanying drawings showing in; a ,diagrammatical manner and solely. as anexainplej an embodl nentof this invention.

In se ra n s:

Fig. 1. is an elevational viewshowing; diagram: matically the hydraulic unit according to this invention. in one of its operating positions.

Figs. 2 and 3'aresimi1ar views showing..s ai d unit in two other positions.

Fig. 4shows in a diagrammaticalrnanner an example of embodiment of the kinematic connection of the main controlvalvel Fig. 5 is a corresponding side -view of 4.

Figs. .6 to 8 show another embodiment Lof th unit in three different positions.

h dra i ni fie diu i anaemia:

ment shown is assumed to be applied to a machine-tool the sliding tool carrier of which is driven by fluid pressure with a fast return motion; the piece of work to be machined being itself clamped by fluid pressure. The invention is not limited by this example of application, as obviously it may also be applied to any other pur-' pose.

In view of this particular purpose, the hydraulic unit comprises a first piston I driving" the tool slide 2 (see Fig. 4); this piston I moves in a cylinder 3. A second piston 4, moving in a brings the slide valve 8 to the position shown in cylinder 5, eliects the clamping and release of the work. The control of the flow of liquid in-the cylinders 3 and 5 is effected by a main control slide valve 6, in such a manner that the piston I effects both its working and return strokes during the period of rest, of piston 4, i. e. between the end of its upward stroke and the beginning of its downward stroke, in order that the tool operates onthe work only when the latter is clamped in a fixed position.

"Said controlling valve comprises a casing Lin 7 which moves the slide valve proper 8, controlled by the piston I (or the tool slide 2) through any suitable mechanical connection, of which an embodiment is shown as an example in Figs. 4 and 5. Integrally connected with the tool slide 2 is alug 9, freelysliding on a rod I 0 between collars II and I2which are adjustably secured thereto. At the end of its strokes in either direction, the tool slide 2 thus shifts the rod I0, which in turn shifts the slide valve 8 either directly or, as shown, through an arm I3, fastened tosaid rod Ill and connected at its opposite end with the stem of slide valve 8.

- The control valve casing I is supplied with liquidu'nder pressure through a conduit I4 having a pressure controlling valve I5. On the other handfsaid casing I maybe connected with the cylinders 3 and 5 through a number of ports and ducts controlledby the slide valve 8 and whose function will now be described.

When starting a cycle of operations, piston I is in its extreme right-hand position, piston 4 in itsl'ow position and slide valve 8, in the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position, said slide valve uncovers the portlfi, connected by a conduit I'I withjcylinder, and the port I8, connected by a conduit I9 with the upper part of cylinder 5. The righthand end of cylinder 3 communicates, on th'e'other hand, with the lower part of cylinder 5 through a conduit 29 in which is arranged a ball valve 2 I A conduit 22 containing a ball valve 23 connects the left-hand end of cylinder 3 with said conduit I9.

The fi'uid entering, in the aforesaid position of slide valveB, into the right-hand end of cylinder 3, flows through the conduit into the cylinder 5 by lifting the ball ZI It thus causes the elevation of piston 4, since exhaust of the fluid out of the upper par-t of cylinder 5 is freely permitted through conduit I9, uncovered port I8 and an outlet duct 27, whereas, during this upward move merit of piston 4, piston I remains at restsince escape of the fluid out of the left-hand chamber of cylinder 3 is prevented by the ball valve 23.

When the upward motion of piston 4 is, ended, the pressure rises until the regulating valve I5 operates to limit same. At this time, said pressure is sufficient to cause the shifting of an auxiliary slide valve 24, provided with an adjustable spring 25, to bring said slide valve to the position shown in Fig. l, in which it opens a by-pass conduit 26 short-circuiting the ball valve 23. Escape Fig. 2. Fluid under pressure flows through port I8 and conduit '19 into the upper part of cylinder '5 and also flows through conduit 22, by raising the ball valve 23 therein, into the left-hand end of cylinder 3, the slide valve 24 having returned to its closing position. In spite of the fluid acting uponits upper face, piston 4 remains at rest since escaping of fluid out of the lower chamber is prevented by theball valve ZI. On the other hand,

piston I effects its return stroke since escaping of fluid is freely permitted through conduit I1, port I6 and duct 28. As the piston I reaches the end of its stroke, the lug 9 shifts the slide valve 8 and brings it into the position of Fig. 3, in which neithero-f the cylinder chambers is supplied with liquid. Just before reaching the end of said return stroke, however, the slide valve 8 opens a port 29, which causes the fluid under pressureto raise- -a piston 30, the stem 3| of which raises the ball 2 I, thus permitting the fluid'to escape out of cylinder 5, through a conduit 33, and causing the downward motionof piston 4. The stem 3l is provided with an enlargement 32which is however provided with longitudinal ducts for allowing the flow of liquid.

In accordance with-the the downward motion of piston 4 will be efiected at a more or less advanced time and, at the limit,

exactly when piston I comes to rest. I There is thus obtained a forward and return drive of piston I, iQ e. of the tool slide, during the period of rest of piston 4 effecting the clamping of the work. In view'of another operating cycle, the slide valve 8 may be returned by hand to theposition of Fig. 1. I

In accordance with this invention; there may be provided in the conduits one or more regulating valves which, on account of "the arrangement of said conduits and the provision of ball valves 2|, 23, permits of regulating the speed of either of the pistons or both, in one or both direction.

The possibility of regulating the speed in one direction with constant speed may be of advantage for some purposes such as, for example, in fast return machine-tools.

Thus, if it bedesired to regulate only the speed of the forward stroke of piston I, for example, a single regulating valve may be arranged in the conduit 22. 'Adjusting the speed of flow of the escaping fluid by m eansof this valve, which may be of any suitabletype, will thereby cause'the speed of the forward stroke of piston I to be also adjusted.

If it is desired, in View of other applications, to regulate also the speed of the return stroke of the same piston'and that of piston 4, similar regulating valves may be arranged in the corresponding conduits.

There is thus provided, in accordance with the invention, a hydraulic unit enabling the drive of several members of machine-tools to be effected with a determined interdependency and with the possibility of effecting independent-adjusting of the forward and return speeds of these various members, the fluidalone ensuring not only the -contr-o-l of these members, but also the interdependency of their movements.

With a view to obtaining other combinations position of the port 29,

on motions lithe pl-pings may rbe -arrang'e'd in -a different manner,- the principle *of the-device remainingthe same.- v

" "Ztn.theembodime'nt'just described the ell under pressure-having to act on the pis-tonl to oause clamping of the work, is led into the-cylinder 5, flowing first through the cylinder l i and, then, thrOugh aconduiF-ZU containing a ball valve ll which is "automatically lifted for admitting? the oily =on the =contrary,- in the direction of the on exhaust, which permits-unclamping of the work, the.ball '2 l ishe1d tightly closedgand said-exhaust can only-be effected whem as the piston I' is approaching the end of its return stroke; the slide "8 uncovers a port29' through which the on under press-ure'llows' then into a-sm all subsidiary 'cylin der; Where it acts a piston'3il'lifting the ball 2l='-and'=open-ing the' conduit 20. The embodimentaccording to Figs. "6 to-" 8 is much --sim-pler;' whilst safer in operation; moreover; it-absolutely prevents any unclamping of the work all that {eth-e-piston I keeps moving and, cohversely'it hows-movement of said-piston I only when said' work is being' "firmly clamped by thepiston-M'. '--With "a view "to making the drawingsclearer, thecorlduits' for the liquid have not been shown; theyfhave simply been-diagrammatically indicated in fheavy lines, these being either continuous, when the" liquid flowing therethrough is under pressure, or interrupted by blanks, when the con duits-are connected to the exhaust.

In accordancewith. this. embodiment, the end of the cylinder'B into which oil under pressure is to be: admitted, is connected to the control valve 6 through a conduit 30 free fromany sealingiball;

however, as in-the construction above described,

the oil passing through said conduit/flows in the subsidiary cylinder 3| inorder .to act on' 'the piston valve 24. The-opposite end-of the cylin der 5 I is directly connected with the control valve ii by a conduit l9; vTheflportszinthe-casing l and in the slide valve 8 of said control valve are then arranged in such a manner that, in all theslide valvepos'itions ensuring thesupply'of the'cylirider 3 with oil under pressure, such Oil will also be allowed to enter the appropriateend of the cylinder 5, so as to maintain the piston 4 in the work clamping position, whereas, when the piston l is stopped, oil under pressure will be allowed to enter the opposite end of said cylinder 5, so as to cause unclamping of the work.

This embodiment operates as follows:

When starting, the various members are in the position shown in Fig. 6, however, with this difference that the piston-valve 24 is held by its spring 25 in its extreme right-hand position (as shown in Figs. 7 and 8), in which it closes the pipe 26. The slide valve 8 is in its extreme righthand position, in which its ports [6 and 32 conmeet the conduits l1 and 3!] with the inlet conduit M for oil under pressure, while its ports l8 and 33 respectively connect the conduits l9 and 25 with the exhaust conduit 21. In this position, oil under pressure will thus act simultaneously on the right side of the piston l and the lower side of the piston 4. The piston l remains at rest, however, since the oil contained in the left hand space of the cylinder 3 cannot be discharged either by the pipe 22, or by the pipe 26, as these are closed by the ball valv 23 and the pistonvalve 24, respectively. On the other hand, the piston 4 will start on its upward stroke, thus causing clamping of the work. When the work has thus been clamped, the piston 4 is stopped and the pressure of the oil in the pipez3ll=and in the cylinder fl rises to a given value -when said pressure: is sufficiently high to 1 cause shifting of the pistonwalverfl'leftwar'ds -and to bringth-e same to the position-shown inFig. 6. In this position said "piston valve =24 :opens therconduit 26;-so :thatthevoibmay freely escapefrom the cylinder t, which-permits of the-piston! liefiecting its 'feed'i-ng stroke leftwards, thus producing the motion 'Of the tool (for example a circular sawb-inordertomachinethe work.

' '{Whenthe piston I hascompleted its-forward stroke, it causespbyanysuitable means (for instrncepsim-ilar to thosesh-own in Figs, 1 to 5) shifting ofthe slidervalveB, which it brings'to its extreme -lefit-hand position, shownin Fig, 7. In this position, the -port 16 causes the conduit I 1 I to communicate with the exhaust con-duit 34, instea dof connecting the same with the inletconduit l4 for oilunder-pressure as was'formerly the case;-however; the port 32 still connects the conduit iill -with said inlet conduit M, so that-oil under pressure stillacts on the lower-side ore/the piston 4, which still maintains the workin' the clamping-position. On the other'hand the cond-uit zfi instead ofbein-g connected bytheport 3-3 with*'the exhaust 'conduit 21 is now connected by said port with the inlet conduit l4, so. that the oilunder pressure will now act by lifting the ball: valve .23 -on .the leitside of piston I. This piston-is themfiee-tO-start onits return stroke since foil may freely escape from the cylinder"3 throu gh -the' conduit' l1.

' When said-piston I has'completed its return stroke -it causes-againshiftin'g of the slide-valve 8 in :the opposite direction, bringing said valve to theposition shown 'in Fig.8; in which the ports l'6- an*d *33, respectivelycorresponding to conduits l l arid -ifi-g are closed. In this same position- 0f the slide valve 8, the port 32 connects the con duit wlthf'the exhaust conduit 34, -'while the port =l8- connects the-conduit I 9 with the inlet pipe-=-I-4'-'for oilunderdpressure. Under thesecon- 'ditions -the said oil under. pressure acts on the upper side of sigma- 4 and it is thus enabled to control the downward movement of said piston since the oil contained in the lower space of cylinder 5 may freely escape by way of conduit 30. Said piston 4 consequently causes unclamping of the work.

In view of a new cycle of operations, the slide valve 8 only requires to be returned to its starting position, shown in Fig. 6, either by hand or in any other suitable manner, automatically or not.

It will be seen from the preceding description that the device of this invention ensures clamping of the work as long as th piston I is moving, 1. e. as long as the tool is shifted relatively to said work. Only when said tool is completely stopped, will unclamping of the work be automatically effected, Conversely, as in connection with the former constructional embodiment, the piston I can only be shifted when the work is firmly clamped by piston 4.

It will be further noted that, as is provided in the preceding construction, the regulation of the feed speed is obtained by means of a control cock 35 inserted in the exhaust conduit 26. Owing to this arrangement, there is no throttling of the fluid under pressure; moreover, the rearward motion can be efiected at a high speed since escape of oil, as a result of this motion, takes place through conduit 11, which comprises no throttling member.

-Iclaim: i

1. Hydraulic device for thecontrol of two members one of which has to carryout itS.fOI'-.- ward and return strokes during'stoppage of the other; comprising .a first piston moving inn, first cylinder and controlling the first membena sec-' ond piston movingin a second cylinder and con,- trolling the second member, a slide valve controlling, in the first place, a conduit connected in series with the two working chambers(forward stroke) of the first and of the second cylinder and, in the second place, a conduit connected to the exhaust chamber (forward stroke) of the second cylinder, and a branch conduit connecting the last named conduit with-the exhaustchainber of thewfirst cylinderjaball valve being interposed in said branch'condllit so that when the slide'valve occupies its first position in which it connects the first conduit withthe supply of fiuid under pressure and the second conduit with the exhaust, said ball valve closes said branch conduit and prevents exhaust fromthe first cylinder so thatalonethe second piston efiects its forward stroke. r

2. Device according to claim 1, in which said ball valve is short-circuited by a by-pass conduit containin an auxiliaryslide valve which opens automaticallyas soon-as, on account of the first piston remaining at rest, thepressure rises to an amount limited by a regulating valve, thus permitting the firstpiston to effect. its forward stroke, at the end of which it brings the slide valve'to a second position in which the first conduit is connected with the exhaust and the second with the fluid supply, the exhaust from the first cylinder being then freelyefi'ected through the first named conduit, thus allowing the first piston to carry out its return stroke whilst the second piston always remains stationary as a result of the exhaust from its cylinder being prevented by a ball valve interposed inflthe portion of conduit connecting the two cylinders together, said ball valve being brought into the position ofopening as soon as the firstpiston, having reached the end of its return strok h s roug t the sl d valve into a third position in-which itocuts off the admission to the cylinders but uncovers a port enabling the fluid to flow into a small cylinder whose piston controls saidsball valve, the second-piston being then able to carry out its re: turn stroke. i i

r 3. Hydraulic device for machine tools enabling the tool and the work clamping member .to be controlled in. such a manner that the tool carries out its forward and return stroke during the time when the clamping-member is in thelocked position, which member may onlyreturn.-to its position of'rest after the end of the return stroke ofthe work, comprising a first piston moving in a .first cylinder controlling the tool, a second piston moving in a second cylinder and controlling the clamping member, ;a controlling valve, two conduits connecting the controlling valve with the workcharnbers (forward stroke) Of. the two cylinders, two-conduits connecting said controlling valve with the exhaust chambers (forward stroke) ofsaid two cylinders, and a slide-valve controlledby the pressure prevailing in the inlet conduit for'the second cylinder and which governs the exhaust conduit of the first cylinder, the sai-d controlling valve comprising a, special portwhich only .connects the exhaust conduit (return stroke) of-the second cylinder with the exhaust port when the first piston has completed its return strokeand has brought this slide valve into the required position. Y

ROBERT FRANQOIS POUILLEL REFERENCES CITED The-following references are of record in the fileof this'patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 489,791 Great Britain ,Aug.4, 1938 

